Harvest 2022-23 is the largest crop in CBHs 90 year history

It's official - CBH has set a new receival record, taking more grain during the 2022/23 harvest than last year, the largest year on record in CBH’s 90-year history.

The 2021/22 high of 21.3 million tonnes was passed late in the afternoon on Thursday 5 January.

This is a huge achievement for everyone involved in the Western Australian grain industry, including growers, their families and employees, the CBH team, grower groups, agribusinesses, agronomists, transporters and the communities that support farming in WA.

Chief Operations Officer Mick Daw particularly acknowledged the contribution of the CBH team in achieving this record.

"I would especially like to thank everyone – from the frontline employees to the ports and offices across WA - for the part you’ve played in us being able to reach this record," Mr Daw said.

"I know that individuals and teams have gone to extraordinary efforts to keep grain moving and deliver tonnes to our customers throughout the year. We have only been able to receive a record amount of grain due to the resilience, dedication, and collaboration of the team from the end of last harvest to now.

“With many growers still harvesting, especially in the Albany and Esperance zones, the final harvest total for CBH is expected to be higher still.”

In addition to the harvest receivals reaching new highs, CBH’s supply chain is setting records as well.

For the first time in the co-operative’s history, CBH has shipped a record 2.18 million tonnes of grain and railed 1 million tonnes in a single month in December 2022.

This surpassed the previous shipping record of 1.89 million tonnes set in January 2017 by 15 per cent.

This is the greatest amount of grain moved through the supply chain and to our customers in any month ever.

Mr Daw extended his congratulations to the hardworking frontline CBH employees across the state, dedicated transporters and contractors, and the regional communities that support the grain growers of Western Australia.

In addition to the state-wide receival and logistics records, over 54 sites across the network have broken daily receival records and 34 sites have received the most tonnes on record during this harvest.

As this year’s harvest edges closer to the finish line, further sites and services will close across the network, so please refer to the CDF app for up-to-date information.

Zone Summary

Albany Zone

• The Albany Zone has received 4.22 million tonnes to date with at least another 400-500k still to come in. There is a lot stored on farm which will be delivered over the next few weeks.
• All commodities are being delivered, with the majority being wheat, followed by barley, and even some canola still being received.
• Grain quality has been good.
• Some sites are full and closed for the season, while out-loading continues at some sites to allow for more space for receivals. Notifications have been going out through the CDF app regarding site status and some sites are operating with reduced grids due to storages being full.
• Daily receival records have been broken at Broomehill (10,188t), Cranbrook (23,027t - largest daily receival for inland site), Gairdner (10,769t), Dumbleyung (7,733t), Nyabing (8,101t), Wellstead (3,474t), Hyden (8,556t), Lake Grace (9,435t) and Chilinup (2,832t).
• Multiple sites across the zone are heading for new all-time receival records, and still receiving grain.
• Average zone cycle time is 40 minutes.

Esperance Zone

• Harvest is progressing well in the Esperance Zone with some fine weather finally hitting the zone.
• While growers in the Lakes region are starting to wind up, growers along the coastal regions are still managing their way through what has been a challenging harvest. It will be well into February before final loads received.
• All commodities are still being received in the zone, however wheat is now dominating deliveries.
• All sites are open except for Lake Varley, Lake King and Mt Madden.
• Cycle times in the zone are slightly higher than normal due to accumulations at the port.

Geraldton Zone

• Harvest has all but wrapped up in the Geraldton Zone with only 5,000t trickling in per day. Current receivals at 4 million tonnes, surpassing the previous total receival record of 3.9 million tonnes, set last year.
• Only Mingenew, Carnamah and the Geraldton Port Terminal remain open.
• Season site receival records broken at Narngulu (350,177t), Arrino (113,088t), Latham (62,443t), Marchagee (69,009t), plus Carnamah and Mingenew have broken theirs - and still going.
• Daily receival records broken at Binnu, Narngulu, Northampton, Yuna, Arrino, Canna, Morawa, Coorow, Latham, Marchagee and Perenjori!

Kwinana North Zone

• The Kwinana North Zone has received 6.13 million tonnes, with about another 150,000 tonnes expected to come in.
• Most of the grain being received is wheat, with small amounts of barley and lupins.
• Grain quality is still good, consistent throughout this harvest.
• Kwinana North still has 19 sites open across the zone, but this will be reduced to about eight major sites by the end of next week.
• Average zone cycle time is steady at 39.8 minutes.
• Kwinana North Zone has broken 16 site seasonal records and 22 daily records, as well as the Total Zone Receivals record.

Kwinana South Zone

• The Kwinana South Zone has now received approximately 95 per cent of expected volumes, totalling 4.27 million tonnes, with a further 300,000 tonnes expected to be delivered in the next two weeks.
• Harvesting conditions are generally good, with only a few harvest bans coming into effect this past week.
• Wheat is still the dominant commodity being delivered, followed by barley. Small quantities of oats, lupins and canola are still being delivered.
• Average zone cycle times are tracking well at 39.4 minutes.
• A total of eight sites have now broken their all-time receival record in the Kwinana South Zone.
• The Total Zone Receivals record of 4.3 million tonnes is expected to be broken this week (commencing 9 January).